ears is by the way of the fountain of laughter. Some
years ago at Ocean Grove, New Jersey, I was to lecture on the subject,
"Boys and Girls, Nice and Naughty." A wealthy widow and her only son
were there from New York, where the young boy had been leading a "gay
life." Ocean Grove with its quiet, moral atmosphere was a dull place
for this young man. He happened to read the subject for the lecture on
the bulletin board, and thinking it suggestive of humor he went to
hear the lecture. He had what he went for, as the lecture did deal
with the fountain of laughter, but it also dealt with the fountain of
tears. It swung the red lantern of danger athwart the pathway of the
wayward young man. Following a story of mother love, I said: "Young
man, let the cares and burdens of life press you down to the very
earth, let the great waves of sorrow roll over your soul, but let no
act of yours ever roll a clod upon the coffin of her, whose image,
enshrined upon the inner walls of your memory, white winters and long
bright summers can never wash away."

A minister told me after, that in a young people's meeting this young
man arose and said: "I attended a lecture at Ocean Grove, thinking I
would have a humorous entertainment. I left the auditorium the saddest
soul in the great audience. Going down to the beach I tried to drive
away the spell, but it grew upon me. I could see how I had grieved my
mother, and the past came rolling up like the waves of the ocean. I
shuddered as they broke on my awakened conscience and quickened
memory. Behind me was an unhallowed past, and before me the brink of
an awful eternity. There and then I resolved to change my course.
Alone under the stars I made my resolve and then started to my mother.
She was waiting for me, and said: 'My son, I wished for you at the
lecture this evening. I think you would have enjoyed it.' I then told
her I was determined to lead a new life and had come to seal my vow
with her kiss."

That young man went to the lecture to laugh, he left to walk alone
with God under the stars by the ocean deep, there to decide to lead a
righteous life, and seal the vow with a loving mother's kiss.

So while in my humble way I have endeavored to use the arts that
entertain I have cherished the purpose to better human lives.

I have referred to the platform as being baited for humanity. Have you
ever considered how it is baited to resist the forces of evil?

The day was when Satan had an at